HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Hawks stymie 'Canes

Published: Friday, August 30, 2013 at 11:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 31, 2013 at 12:47 a.m.

CANDLER — Lake Weir got off on the right foot in Friday night's season opener against Lake Minneola.

Malik Lyew-Gregory intercepted Lake Minneola quarterback Jesse Fiske on the third play of the game.

Then, on the next possession for the visitors, the Hurricanes' Will Jackson hit Fiske deep in the Lake Minneola end zone for a safety.

That was as good as it got for Lake Weir. The Hurricanes' 2-0 lead would not only be their only lead of the game; it was the only points they scored in a 34-2 loss.

Lake Minneola scored 34 unanswered points, 14 of them off two Lake Weir turnovers inside the last two minutes of the first half.

"The problem was not (Lake Minneola); the problem was us," Lake Weir head coach Jason Robinson said. "We turned the ball over. We didn't execute properly. Our defense had to carry us tonight. They were on the field a lot tonight."

Even after a Desmond Johnson 59-yard touchdown run for Lake Minneola with just more than three minutes left in the first half, the Hurricanes trailed by only one score, 10-2.

But Lake Weir punter Brian Venezuela mishandled a snap and Lake Minneola set up shop on the Hurricanes 23 with 1:42 left in the half.

Rickie Mortlock connected on a 37-yard field goal extending Lake Minneola's led to 13-2.

After the ensuing kickoff, Lake Weir attempted a hook-and-ladder from its own 20 on first down and then fumbled the pitch. It took only two plays for Johnson to find the end zone for a second time; this time from 15 yards out. That gave the Hawks an 18-point cushion going into the locker room, 20-2.

Lake Minneola used two different style quarterbacks and it caught Lake Weir's defense on its heels.

<p>CANDLER — Lake Weir got off on the right foot in Friday night's season opener against Lake Minneola.</p><p>Malik Lyew-Gregory intercepted Lake Minneola quarterback Jesse Fiske on the third play of the game. </p><p>Then, on the next possession for the visitors, the Hurricanes' Will Jackson hit Fiske deep in the Lake Minneola end zone for a safety.</p><p>That was as good as it got for Lake Weir. The Hurricanes' 2-0 lead would not only be their only lead of the game; it was the only points they scored in a 34-2 loss.</p><p>Lake Minneola scored 34 unanswered points, 14 of them off two Lake Weir turnovers inside the last two minutes of the first half.</p><p>"The problem was not (Lake Minneola); the problem was us," Lake Weir head coach Jason Robinson said. "We turned the ball over. We didn't execute properly. Our defense had to carry us tonight. They were on the field a lot tonight."</p><p>Even after a Desmond Johnson 59-yard touchdown run for Lake Minneola with just more than three minutes left in the first half, the Hurricanes trailed by only one score, 10-2. </p><p>But Lake Weir punter Brian Venezuela mishandled a snap and Lake Minneola set up shop on the Hurricanes 23 with 1:42 left in the half. </p><p>Rickie Mortlock connected on a 37-yard field goal extending Lake Minneola's led to 13-2. </p><p>After the ensuing kickoff, Lake Weir attempted a hook-and-ladder from its own 20 on first down and then fumbled the pitch. It took only two plays for Johnson to find the end zone for a second time; this time from 15 yards out. That gave the Hawks an 18-point cushion going into the locker room, 20-2.</p><p>Lake Minneola used two different style quarterbacks and it caught Lake Weir's defense on its heels. </p><p>Fiske ran a spread attack. Then, when Austin Hunt was under center, the Hawks' offense ran quarterback keepers and option plays.</p><p>Lake Weir also went with dual quarterbacks, Tyler Rotstein and Culter Blackburn. Both struggled moving the Hurricane offense throughout the night.</p><p>Lake Minneola outgained Lake Weir on the ground 237-97.</p><p>Lake Weir (0-1) takes on Belleview (1-1) next week.</p>